Atwood takes on Shakespeare's The Tempest. The play about imprisonment, revenge, forgiveness and enchantment is to be produced by the inmates of a modern prison. The director, not an inmate, grieves over the death of his daughter and from this stems his creativity, together with his vengeful desire to expose the corruption of those in power. Atwood's interpretation covers the themes of the original. You may miss the glorious Shakespearian language but it is a terrific read.
Ed Note: This is the fourth in the Hogarth Shakespeare series of modern interpretations, following Jeanette Winterson's The Gap of Time (The Winter's Tale), Howard Jacobson's Shylock is my Name (The Merchant of Venice) and Anne Tyler's Vinegar Girl (The Taming of the Shrew)
(Christine Miller - bwl 83 Winter 2017 ) |
